More than 25,000 sign Faithful America statement decrying the president’s nationalist hijacking of religion as blasphemous, racist, and violent
Following Donald Trump’s violent photo-ops outside an Episcopal church and Catholic shrine this week, faith leaders from across the country have forcefully condemned the sacrilegious stunts as well as the president’s failure to empathize with oppressed people of color.
Grassroots Christians are as furious as clergy at the president’s violent hijacking of the Bible for white supremacy. Since Tuesday morning, more than 25,000 people have signed a statement from the Christian social-justice organization Faithful America rejecting Trump’s photo-ops and agenda as racist and blasphemous.
The Faithful America petition reads,
“As Christians, we are deeply angered by Donald Trump’s oppressive teargassing of peaceful protesters and by his blasphemous use of the Holy Bible and an Episcopal church as political props. We reject every word of his hateful message of state violence and white supremacy as anathema to the loving teachings of Jesus Christ, we thank Bishop Mariann Budde for her moral leadership, and we offer support to people of color who bear the brunt of Trump’s wrath.
“No matter what the religious right claims, being Christian does not require supporting the Republican Party. Donald Trump will inevitably attempt another display of toxic Christian nationalism, and when he does, we pray that the press will remind its audience how strongly Christian leaders rejected the violence, racism, and blasphemy he displayed at St. John’s.”
View and sign the original statement here: https://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/blasphemous-stunt
Many of the statement’s grassroots signers added personal comments along with their signatures, including:
- Joyce, San Antonio, TX: “The lack of respect this president has for Christian faiths astounds me.”
- Linda, Greensburg, PA: “A perfect example of taking the Lord’s name in vain.”
- Denise, Varina, NC: “Let’s be clear about why Trump pulled that vile stunt. This isn’t just his usual despicable brand of cultural division: He is purposefully cloaking himself with ‘the Divine Right of Kings.'”
- Steven, Ludington, MI: “As a Christian, I’ve been disgusted by Trump since Charlottesville. I’m speechless over the stunt he pulled Monday.”
- Joy, La Verne, CA: “As a Mennonite Christian, I am horrified by the use of a church building and the Bible to justify violence against our Black sisters and brothers.”
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Contact
The Rev. Nathan Empsall
[email protected]
(203) 343-0549
